TRAFFIC

Daytime lane closures planned for I-10 Eastbound in Crestview

Today, Friday, April 28, drivers on Interstate 10 (I-10) eastbound in Crestview will encounter alternating lane closures from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. as crews mill and resurface the travel lanes.

The lane closures will occur from immediately east of the Antioch Road (County Road 4) overpass and continue for approximately .5 miles.

• Law enforcement personnel will be on-scene to safely direct drivers through the work zone.

All activities are weather-dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.

BUSINESS

Destin Chamber announces ‘Business Persons of the Month’

On Tuesday, April 25, Saltwater Restaurants’ Director of Operations Clint Rogers and Director of Marketing Misty Rae Ruthrauff were honored with the Destin Chamber’s Business Persons of the Month Award.

• This award is presented directly from the Chamber’s Board of Directors to Destin area businesspersons showing vision for their business and leadership in our community. 

“Any business that’s successful is so because of the people they have working there. That is certainly true about Misty Rae and Clint,” explained Chamber President & CEO Shane A. Moody. “They lead, they create, they give back to the community, and they are great chamber supporters. That always leads to a strong business and greater success.”

Saltwater Restaurants, through its seven restaurants, Blackstone Golf Course and The Boardwalk, is a huge employer and economic generator for the Destin area. In addition, its S.E.A. Initiative, which stands for Safety, Environment, Activities, was created to help protect, preserve and enhance the beaches.

• It does so by providing additional beach safety efforts, preservation and beautification initiatives, and family-friendly beachfront activities.

Some of the tangible results of this initiative include providing accessibility equipment for handicap individuals, building walkways designed for wheelchairs, the donation of beach safety equipment, funding of projects to protect marine life, and the hosting of beach cleanups, Sunday church services, 5Ks, fireworks, and more. 

Most recently, Saltwater Restaurants partnered with the Destin Chamber on its 11th Annual Paddle at the Park by allowing The Boardwalk to host the event on Saturday, May 6, 2023. This new venue will allow the event the space, facilities and parking needed to grow it into one of the Southeast’s premier standup paddle board events.

Congrats to our friends at Saltwater Restaurants!

GIVING BACK

Okaloosa County High School students participate in Financial Education Program

The Okaloosa Public Schools Foundation and Eglin Federal Credit Union have collaborated to introduce a financial education program, Reality Check, to Okaloosa County for the first time.

• The program was aimed at educating high school students from the 9th to 12th grades on financial literacy, fiscal responsibility and budgeting in preparation for the real world.

Approximately 60 students from Laurel Hill School took part in lessons facilitated by EFCU Financial Education Specialist, Courtney Dollson, on April 12 and 19. The final Reality Check simulation was held at the Crestview Community Center on April 26, where students participated in an activity where they randomly received various occupations, salaries, and credit scores.

The event was aimed at providing students with a glimpse into real-life financial decision-making, where they visited booths staffed by community partners and volunteers from insurance agencies, mortgage lending, auto lending, finance, retail, and communications.

• They made purchases based on their salaries and credit scores, and their expenses were calculated to help them understand how to budget their finances effectively.

During the event, students were offered breakfast and lunch provided by a grant from the Okaloosa Public Schools Foundation.

“Financial literacy and fiscal responsibility are life skills,” said Executive Director Okaloosa Public Schools Foundation Steve Horton. “The Okaloosa Public Schools Foundation is grateful to be able to partner with Eglin Federal Credit Union and our other volunteers to host this event for our students. We are committed to enhancing students’ education, and this Reality Check event provides a perfect forum to do just that.”

According to EFCU Financial Education Specialist Courtney Dollson, “Eglin Federal Credit Union is committed to the communities we serve by providing free financial education. We hope to continue this event annually and see even more growth in the coming years.”

The program was successful in its aim to provide high school students with a practical understanding of financial decision-making. Amy Senterfitt, one of the participating students, stated that “today I really learned how to budget my money and how the real world is actually going to be.”

COMING SOON

First Tee Gulf Coast seeks to build youth clubhouse and putting course at Fort Walton Beach Golf Course

On Tuesday, April 25, 2023, First Tee Gulf Coast Executive Director Marty Stanovich presented a proposal to the Fort Walton Beach City Council for the construction of a 2,000-square-foot clubhouse at the city’s golf course and a putting course. 

• The clubhouse, intended to serve the local chapter of the non-profit organization, would also feature an additional 1,200 square feet of covered porch.

First Tee is a nationwide organization that teaches life and social skills to children through the game of golf. With youth golf programs in five counties in Northwest Florida, the First Tee Gulf Coast chapter has been operating a youth golf program at the Fort Walton Beach Golf Club since 2013.

During the meeting, Stanovich explained that the proposed clubhouse would be situated near the site of the course’s old pro shop, close to Country Club Ave NE. The cost of the project is estimated at $750,000, which Stanovich says would be covered entirely by private donors. 

• He further clarified that the building would not be used for commercial purposes and that the First Tee program would not impact the golf course’s revenue or operations.

“We work on shoulder times; we utilize the back end of the driving range and the adjacent practice areas,” said Stanovich. “We never interfere with the actual business of what is going on at the Fort Walton Beach Municipal Golf Course.”

The proposed clubhouse would include a main central assembly area for the children, restrooms, storage, and two small offices. 

An artificial, maintenance-free putting course would be built to the west of the facility, providing 18 or 36 holes for the children to practice on. 

• “We want to make sure that this meets with the architectural standards that the council would want, and also be very complimentary to the neighborhood and to the golf course,” he added. 

Stanovich highlighted the organization’s commitment to inclusivity, saying, “We teach young people ages 5 to 18, and we teach them regardless of ability to pay. So we take every young person into our program who has any interest in golf, no matter their economic status, their physical abilities, or limitations. We have never turned a young person away.”

After hearing Stanovich’s proposal, the city council voted 7-0 to direct city staff to draft a conditional letter of support, which will be presented for consideration at a future council meeting. There was no timeline given on the proposed project at this time.

COMING SOON

Thrills Laser Tag and Arcade to unveil newly-renovated laser tag arena to the community

Thrills Laser Tag and Arcade has exciting news for the local community. They will be unveiling their newly-renovated laser tag arena with a launch party on May 20th, from 1 to 3 p.m. The best part?

• They have partnered with The Boys and Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast, pledging a generous donation of 10% of all laser tag sales on the day of the launch party.

Todd Whitney, the owner of Thrills Laser Tag and Arcade, shared that his team has invested a significant amount of time and effort into this project. Whitney stated, “We’re so excited to be able to finally share it with the community while benefiting The Boys and Girls Clubs, which is such an incredible resource for our area.”

Whitney said he wanted the laser tag renovation to benefit the community outside of providing new entertainment, selecting The Boys and Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast because of their dedication to improving the lives of young people in the area.

• “We are incredibly grateful for Thrills Laser Tag and Arcade and their generous donation to our club kids,” said Shervin Rassa, CEO of the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast. “Every cent raised through this launch event will make an impact on the over 5,000 youth we serve on an annual basis. We encourage everyone to bring their kids and join us for a fun-filled day.”

Thrills Laser Tag and Arcade partnered with Creative Works, Laserforce, and Justin Geller to develop a cinematic-quality experience for its laser tag arena. The partnership has turned the space into the most interactive and immersive laser tag experience in the country.

Armando Lanuti, the president of Creative Works, commented, “When Todd and his team at Thrills reached out and asked us to create the most immersive, story-driven, and memorable [laser tag] experience, our team of mad-scientists went all in to bring his vision to life.”

The laser tag arena will maintain its Temple of Doom theme, but with a new storyline aligned with escape rooms and ride attractions found in world-class theme parks. The arena has a fully-immersive launch room that sets the storyline and tone for an adrenaline-pumping experience.

• There are highly-interactive treasures that players can unlock and capture for redemption prizes, and the immersive DMX lighting and sound effects transport players into the story.

The players’ objective is to capture the Golden Monkey, set out by The Archivist. With the new Laserforce vest technology set to be installed, players can earn tickets along the way, much like the other 70+ player stations in the arcade.

For more information about the launch party, visit Thrills’ website at ThrillsLaserTag.com or their Facebook page. They are located at 90 Seascape Dr #105, Miramar Beach, FL 32550

THINGS TO DO

Paddle at the Park set for May 6 at The Boardwalk on Okaloosa Island

The 11th Annual Paddle at the Park is moving its location and date!

This standup paddle board race will take place in the Gulf of Mexico behind The Boardwalk on Okaloosa Island on Saturday, May 6, 2023. It features 1- and 3-mile recreational races, a 6-mile elite race and a kids’ fun out-and-back paddle.

• The event boasts a wide variety of exciting races, including 1- and 3-mile recreational races, a 6-mile elite race, and a kids’ fun out-and-back paddle.

The festivities will kick off on Friday, May 5, with a Racer Welcome Party at Al’s Beach Club at The Boardwalk on Okaloosa Island. Come Saturday morning, the races will begin with staggered start times, beginning at 9 a.m.

Beach-goers can expect to be entertained with a variety of engaging displays and booths that will be set up along the beach. The event will culminate with an awards ceremony to celebrate the day’s winners.

For those interested in participating, registration is now open and can be accessed at https://paddleguru.com/races/11thAnnualPaddleatthePark.

• Detailed race information can be found at PaddleAtThePark.com or by following the event’s Facebook page, Facebook.com/PaddleAtThePark.